Fumigant



Patented Dec. 31, I 2,413,405

FUMIGANT Frank Leslie Campbell, Rockvilie, Md., and Willis Canard Fernelius, Dayton, Ohio No Drawing. Application July 21, 1944,

' Serial No. 546,061

. 1 This invention, which is a continuation-impart of the invention of our application Serial No.

403,873, filed July 24, 1941, now United States Patent No. 2,381,257, relates to the preparation ported, whereas both ethylene oxide and sulfur dioxide are gaseous at room temperature. Furthermore, the material vaporizes over a period of time, can be released gradually, and provides a prolonged fumigating action. The killing of that suflclent sulfur dioxide would be generated 5 Claims. I (Cl. 167-39) for complete and thorough fumigation. Similarly, the burning of carbon disultlde was both unsatisfactory and particularly hazardous.

when the product of this invention is used as of an addition product of sulfur dioxide and 5 a, fumigant, there is no risk of danger to oper-' ethylene Oxide d o h us the 0011190311 ators. Furthermore, thorough fumigation is asln a P o f r killin inse ssured because the compound is'of known compo- -restaurantthreats:$252 su arure an ere ore, e amoun re uire or 1 :3 5 i g' i'i g 3 :6 a 3 22 10 fumigating any given enclosure can be talculated g e ormua a 2 '2- t She W o estimatede si This kes to con m that the oxygen atom of the ethylene oxide serves i the requifieyamount :2 be t is necessary 0 y 0 open a con ner o e comi gf gg is formed between said oxygen pound in the enclosure and to vaporize a suflicient g f g g is a liqd at 0 0 amount of compound to kill all insects therein. t The, container may be, for example, a can with K23 225321 zz fg g fg g ggfif fi fifig 1 a lid or portion which may be easily removed or compound can be used to excellent advantage 5 g g exlzosedlto as a fumlgant. when volatilization occurs thee mosp e compoun eg v0 compound dissociates into sulfur dioxide and tmze x g. 2f f' as a the user. n a 0 me, e require quantity is 2332 2 23 35 gzii gg g gg s exert amml" vaporized and fumigation is complete. Alter- The addition product of ethylene oxide and 25 na'fively the compound may be swayed into ensuuur dioxide-1s especially adapted for commer closures which require fumigation. This can clal use as a fumigant and insecticide because it be done very conveniently by means of containers can be handled very convenientl as a, liquid q ipped with thumb-operated valves, such as the in sealed. containers and can be readily trans so-called siphon used in dispensing charged water or the device used to apply whipped cream by releasing nitrous oxide under pressure. A particularly satisfactory method of employing the material of this inention is to saturate powders, pellets, or balls of clay, diatomaceous earth, talc, and the like, with the compound. These may be insects exposed to .the vapors from the addition compound is very fa t due to the insecticidal kept in sealed containers and used as needed. properties of both the ethylene oxide and the Extenders solid carriers, or fillers thus saturated f r dioxide which are liberated. I are especially suited for use in small enclosures While it is well known to fumigate with sulfur ,such as drawers, boxes closets, et ceteradioxide, such fu i ati processes have proven Dlluents or liquid carriers which are miscible to be very cumbersome and hazardous. Heretowlth the addition h may be used in for it was necessary t use compressed ulfur junction therewith. Their presence often facildioxide or to burn either sulfur candles or car- "ates the use of the addition cPmpound- Suitb disulflde absorbed on diatomaceous earth able liquid carriers include miscible hydrocarbon unskilled operators could not use compressed gas solvents and halogenated hydrocarbon solvents. without endangering themselves, and it was pracaddition Product f ethylene xi e may be tically necessary to engage professional fumiprepared by pass n ul r di i e i g quid gator A1 1 many instances where, f ethylene oxide which is maintained at low temample, the space to be fumigated was small, the tur s, p ra ly at or low C. alteruse of compressed sulfur dioxide was im ractical. 50 natively, the two m terials may be reacted in an The use of ulfur candles has always left h autoclave under pressure at higher temperatures. to be desired. In addition to the dangers attend- Preferably, equimolecular amounts are reacted, ant upon the burning of sulfur, the method at although a considerable excess of the ethylene best was haphazard, and it gave no assurance 5 oxide may be present if desired.

The following example illustrates a preferred 3 method of preparing the addition product of ethylene oxide and sulfur dioxide.

A tared flask containing 440 grams (10 mols) of ethylene oxide was immersed in a salt-ice bath. Sulfur dioxide was passed into the ethylene oxide until a total weight equal to 640 grams (l0 mols) had reacted to form addition product havin the formula (CI-19 0.802. This product was a liquid which vaporized rapidly at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

We claim:

1. As a new composition of matter, the addition product of ethylene oxide and sulfur dioxide having the formula (CI-1920.502.

2. A fumigating and insecticidal material comprising the addition product. of ethylene oxide and sulfur dioxide having the formula (03920502 and a carrier therefor.'

- 3. A fumiaatins and insecticidal material comprising the addition product of ethylene oxide and sulfur dioxide having the formula (CI-1920.80: and a diluent miscible therewith.

4. A process for killing insects which comprises exposing insects to the vapors of the addition product of ethylene oxide and sulfur dioxide, said addition product having the formula (CI-1020.802.

5. A process for fumigating an insect-infested enclosure which comprises vaporizing at atmospheric pressure within said enclosure the addition product of ethylene oxide and sulfur dioxide, having the formula (CH:)2O.S02, in an amount suilicient to kill all insects within said enclosure.

- FRANK LESLIE CAMPBELL.

WILLIS CONARD FERNELIUS. 

